Students show off artistic talents in shopping centre project
A group of art students have delivered a creative brief for a shopping centre.
The five students, studying for Illustration degrees in the Wolverhampton School of Art, were working on a live creative brief for the Mander Centre in Wolverhampton before the crisis escalated.
The team of creative students was led by university illustration senior lecturer and project manager, Stuart Varley, and the work has been produced by second year students Daniel Turner, Hannah James, Fynn Riseborough, Patrick Campbell-Brookes and Nayia Balatsou.
The team was commissioned to produce artwork for three hoardings for a possible new pop-up games arcade.
Since lockdown restrictions were introduced in March, the students have been working together online communicating through virtual tutorials and video conferencing to develop the artwork.
Daniel Turner, lead art worker, said: “Working online presented us with challenges we wouldn’t have otherwise faced but we learned a lot through this different way of learning and somehow it enhanced our creativity. We create digitally anyway, so this was just another step in the process for us.”
Stuart Varley said: “Working on a live creative brief and taking projects outside the remit of the studio is an essential experience for our students and having the opportunity for students to have their work printed at massive scale is something special.
"It teaches students so much – embracing collaboration with their peers, working within a real world timescale and enhancing and championing of their professional skills.
“The artwork produced includes Neon, 3D Geometric play and Optical Illusions using a variety of computer software. Even though we have had to work in unusual circumstances, with no face to face communication, we have succeeded in the task and the client is happy.”
The work will be on display over the coming months.
